Publicação
Predictive Factors of Mental Health in Athletes from the Paralympic Preparation Program During Social Isolation: The Role of Sleep, Competitive Status, and Motivation
| dc.contributor.author | Eduarda Coelho | |
| dc.contributor.author | Carla Lourenço | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pereira, Antonino | |
| dc.contributor.author | Maria Isabel Mourão-Carvalhal | |
| dc.contributor.author | Sandra Fonseca | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-04-21T09:46:33Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-04-21T09:46:33Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-04-17 | en_US |
| dc.date.updated | 2026-04-18T05:57:25Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for elite athletes, disrupting training routines and affecting mental health. This study examined the impact of social isolation on training, sleep, motivation, and psychological well-being among Portuguese Paralympic athletes. Methods: Forty-five athletes (31.36 ± 10.81 years) from the Paralympic Preparation Program participated, divided into the Paralympic Preparation Project (PPP; n = 21) and the Paralympic Hopes and Talents Project (PHTP; n = 24). Training routines before and during social isolation were compared. Sleep duration, training motivation, and mental health were assessed using the Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5). The analysis employed paired and independent t-tests and a multiple linear regression (Enter method) to examine predictors of mental health. Results: Daily training duration declined by 34.3% (p < 0.001), though weekly frequency remained stable (p = 0.061). PPP athletes reported higher mental health scores than PHTP athletes (66.24 vs. 60.37; p = 0.048). The regression model explained 42.8% of the variance in mental health (R2 = 0.428). Sleep duration was positively associated with mental health and showed the highest standardized coefficient in the regression (β = 0.351; p = 0.008), followed by PPP status (β = 0.315; p = 0.024) and motivation (β = 0.278; p = 0.041). Conclusions: Maintaining biological routines, particularly sleep and motivation, supports mental health under social isolation. Higher well-being among PPP athletes underscores the need for targeted interventions for less experienced athletes. Sports organizations should prioritize sleep hygiene and psychological support to mitigate vulnerability during crises. | eng |
| dc.description.version | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion | |
| dc.identifier.doi | 10.3390/sports14040160 | en_US |
| dc.identifier.slug | cv-prod-5018771 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10400.19/9887 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.peerreviewed | n/a | |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | |
| dc.subject | paralympic sport | |
| dc.subject | mental health | |
| dc.subject | linear regression | |
| dc.subject | COVID-19 | |
| dc.subject | sleep | |
| dc.subject | group effect | |
| dc.title | Predictive Factors of Mental Health in Athletes from the Paralympic Preparation Program During Social Isolation: The Role of Sleep, Competitive Status, and Motivation | en_US |
| dc.type | research article | en_US |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| oaire.citation.issue | 4 | en_US |
| oaire.citation.title | Sports | en_US |
| oaire.citation.volume | 14 | en_US |
| person.familyName | Pereira | |
| person.givenName | Antonino | |
| person.identifier.ciencia-id | 3F1A-82A9-79DA | |
| person.identifier.orcid | 0000-0002-3088-8413 | |
| person.identifier.scopus-author-id | 55147751100 | |
| rcaap.cv.cienciaid | 3F1A-82A9-79DA | Antonino Manuel de Almeida Pereira | |
| rcaap.rights | openAccess | en_US |
| relation.isAuthorOfPublication | 8ff5839c-208a-457b-9b23-99d29fb252f3 | |
| relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery | 8ff5839c-208a-457b-9b23-99d29fb252f3 |